Paul and Lucy Spadoni periodically live in Tuscany to explore Paul’s Italian roots, practice their Italian and enjoy “la dolce vita.”
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Friday, May 1, 2015

A satisfying visit to the birthplace of my Esveldt and Munnik ancestors

Windmills in Amsterdam (photo by Lucy Spadoni, May 2015)

Today I had the
unbelievable opportunity to visit the small cities in Holland where
my great grandfather Jan Pieter Esveldt and great grandmother
Hendrina Munnik grew up.

While my genealogy hobby has focused almost
exclusively on my father’s side of the family for the past five
years, that doesn’t mean I have forgotten my mother’s family. I
grew up next to my grandfather John Wagoner
and grandmother Jeannette Esveldt, who had a strong influence on my
life. Both were teachers, and so were my mom and her sister. I
believe my love and skills for that profession, along with a passion
and respect for the written word, came from them.

By a huge stroke of God’s grace, I received a personal tour of the cities of Uithoorn, where
my Esveldt ancestors hailed, and Mijdrecht, birthplace of both
Hendrina Munnik and Neeltje Blom, Jan Pieter’s mother.

Jan Pieter Esveldt

The chance
visit came about when Lucy and I decided to spend a few days here in
Amsterdam before heading home from Italy. Lucy’s great grandfather
Nathan Bonnist was born in Amsterdam, and she is still in contact
with his brother Abraham’s two grandchildren,
Eduard and Else.

These three buildings may be the last old buildings that remain in Uithoorn from the time that Jan Pieter Esveldt lived there.

After hearing of my family connection to
Holland, Eduard volunteered to take Lucy and me on a personal tour of
Uithoorn and Mijdrecht, which are located about 15 miles south of
Amsterdam. He drove us in his car on a scenic route along the Amstel
River, and as we drove first into Uithoorn and then five minutes
further into Mijdrecht, we realized what a golden opportunity had
fallen into our laps. These are not cities on the beaten tourist
track, and while we conceivably could have reached them by bus along
a main highway, it would have taken much longer, and we would not
known exactly where to find the historical centers of the towns. More
importantly, we would not have had a bi-lingual native of Amsterdam
to help us interpret the scenery and historical significance of the
places we were visiting.

The view of this old farmhouse shows how the river level is actually from 2 to 4 meters higher than the surrounding land.

The area between Amsterdam
and Uithoorn consists of breathtakingly beautiful lush green pasture
lands. Cows, sheep and goats graze in this unbelievably flat land,
most of which is below the level of the Amstel River, which is kept
in check by levies that have been expertly constructed over the
centuries. Most of the rich farm fields have been converted from
marshlands by first channeling the rivers and then using windmills to
pump water from the lower fields into the river. If water is needed
for the fields, it is a simple matter to let it flow back downhill
from the river.

Dutch Reformed Church in Mijdrecht.

Unfortunately, Eduard told
us, we have come too late to see what the little cities looked like
when Jan Pieter and Hendrina grew up. Modern shopping centers and
buildings that house light industries have replaced most of the
historical homes and stores. However, knowing the area as he does,
Eduard was able to take us to some of the neighborhoods where older
buildings still exist, and we were still able to leave with a
reasonable idea of what the old country must have been like. It’s
strangely significant to gaze at buildings that you know your
ancestors must have seen 150 years ago.

The few historic buildings in Uithoorn are on the right. Travel on the Amstel River is still quite active.

The area in old Uithoorn
where we walked around is right on the river, and I believe it quite
likely that Jan Pieter often boarded a boat there in his travels to
Amsterdam. He is said to have owned a blacksmith business that made
iron parts for Amsterdam’s huge fleet of ships. In those days,
river travel would have been the most direct and efficient way for
him to commute.

Eduard Bonnist and Lucy Bonnist Spadoni in Mijdrecht.

Mijdrecht had even fewer
historical buildings than Uithoorn. Lucy and I walked around what is
probably the oldest structure in town, the Reformed Church, which
dates from the 1500s, although it was a Catholic Church when first built. We also looked in the small
cemetery next to the church, but all the headstones were of
relatively recent origin. Likely the ancient graves had to be removed
to make way for newer arrivals.

These old houses in Edam show what houses of wealthy
people would have looked like in Jan Pieter's time.
However, homes in Uithoorn would have been simpler.

While it’s amazing what
a person can discover about one’s ancestors by researching online
and viewing photos and videos, there is still nothing that can match
the emotional satisfaction of a personal visit to the historic towns
from where they came. Today I was fortunate enough to feel that
thrill.

From this unique view in the canals of Amsterdam, one can see seven bridges in a row from one location.

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About Me

First off, before you hassle me about our title, Lucy thought of it. Yes, I know some people may think broad is derogatory, but the etymology is uncertain and she doesn’t find it offensive, and it made me laugh. We have been married since 1974 and are empty-nesters now, which allows me to bring my submerged Italophilia into the open. We first came to live in Italy from February-April in 2011 and have returned during the same months every year. From 2011-2015, we lived in San Salvatore, at the foot of the hilltop city Montecarlo, where my paternal grandparents were born, raised and, in 1908, married. In late 2015, we bought a home in Montecarlo. We come for a variety of purposes: We want to re-establish contact with distant cousins in both Nonno’s and Nonna’s families, we want to learn the language and see what it is like to live as Italians in modern Italy, we like to travel and experience different cultures. Even if we aren’t successful at achieving these purposes, we love Italy and enjoy every moment here, so there is no chance we will be disappointed. I am grateful to God for giving me a wife who is beautiful, clever, adaptable and willing to jump into my dreams wholeheartedly.